Blue & John Crow Mountains
The Blue Mountain Peak Trail (final ascent from Portland Gap) is a 5.6 km (3.5 mile) hike, taking approximately 2 to 3 hours. It ends at the famous Blue Mountain Peak, the highest peak in the island (2,256m). Portland Gap is the last rest stop and overnight stop for the hiker looking to conquer Jamaica's highest point. It is a recreational area, which offers very rustic accommodation in beautiful natural surroundings for the nature lover.
Clydesdale is an old coffee farm and processing factory. The site was used by the Forestry Department as a nursery, however with insufficient resources, the buildings and grounds have become run-down. There is a river with a large pool suitable for swimming, and the site is a favourite with youth groups such as cadets. The road from the community of Section/Silver Hill (just below Holywell on the Portland side) is very rough. Despite the condition of the site, there are still visitors, mainly school groups – particularly Cadets. The Forestry Department has some plans for re-developing the site however, the road will require significant attention.
Cinchona is a botanical garden established about a century ago by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Garden Division. The Cinchona trees grown there were used for the production of quinine which was used to treat malaria. There is a caretaker who maintains the grounds but the infrastructure is in very poor condition. The road from Clydesdale to Cinchona can only be accessed with 4WD and even then requires very skillful driving. The Ministry of Agriculture has some plans for re-developing this site, however the road and its maintenance will be a critical issue.
Most people travelling to Holywell use the road from Papine through the communities of Irish Town, Redlight and Middleton and on through Newcastle – the Jamaica Defence Force training station. Irish Town is so named because of the Irish settlers – many of whom came to Jamaica as overseers for the coffee plantations owned by the English. In 1841, Major General Sir William Gomm, Commanding Officer of Her Majesty’s Forces in Jamaica, moved the training camp to Newcastle to escape the outbreak of yellow fever at Up Park Camp in Kingston. This move saved many English soldiers from death and the site remained a military station from then; today it is used mainly for training. The community of Redlight got its name as it is reputed to be the town the soldiers visited to enjoy “music, liquor and women”. Today, Redlight “Square” is a bustling bus terminus with activity round the clock.
